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Show The Signpost- Wednesday, May 24, 19S9 7 II By Debra George Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor See Jane. This is Dick. See Spot run. Okay, I admit it The storyline was a little sluggish, but who can't recall those cherished days with their first-grade primer? Apparently a lot of people in the U.S. can't. And sadly enough, millions of adults can't read those simple words. Many of us may take for granted the fact that we can read a newspaper, advertisement, or successfully fill out a job application. Yet 27 million Americans over the age of 17 can't read or write well enough to perform these basic functions of everyday life. Another 45 million Americans are considered only marginally competent in basic reading and writing skills. One might say, "Well, it's their own fault" or "It's not my problem." Oh, yeah? Well let's hit you where it hurts then. You got it. The 'ol pocketbook. Total costs related to illiteracy are estimated to exceed S225 billion each year. Now that may be diddly-squat when compared to our national debt, but it's still a pretty large figure in my book. Most of this money goes to assist those functionally illiterate who are welfare dependent or chronically unemployed. These people can't even read, more or less fill Illiteracy: America's biggest problem out your average job application. It' s been proven that illiteracy leads to long-term welfare dependency and poverty. For instance, individuals with less than a sixth grade education are four times more likely to need public assistance than those who have at least a ninth to eleventh grade education. Three-fifths of all adults receiving Aid to Families with DependentChildren have notcompleted high school. Illiteracy obviously leads to poverty. It also leads to crime. Whether the crime is committed by the chronically unemployed or by an inner-city youth frustrated with his inability to keep up with his peers in class, the culprit is still illiteracy. In fact, many lawyers now concur that illiteracy and juvenile delinquency and crime are closely related. But illiteracy doesn't just raise its ugly head in far away inner-city ghettos. It affects all people, in all environments. . .all the way up to the White House. In this month's Reader's Digest, Barbara Bush relates how the disease crept into her own family leaving her son that . was in second grade unable to read a word. It wasn't until her son was home sick one day and Barbara asked him to read to her that she discovered the unbelievable truth. When she confronted the teacher, she denied it and said that the boy was one of her best students. Yet when the teacher asked the boy il -m ui warm j;1 tt-j - $ ' - i .- lr- ' f to stand and read in front of the class, they noticed that the other children were whispering him the lines. Needless to say, appropriate measures were taken and the boy slowly learned to read, even though they discovered that he did have a severe learning disability. Okay. So illiteracy costs us money and leads to crime and poverty. Those are all pretty powerful reasons to vigorously support literacy programs. Yet, perhaps the saddest of all, the inability to read deprives a human being of much of his ability to learn, discover his world, and consume the massive volumes of literature and entertainment that lie unused at his fingertips. Yet what can we do about illiteracy? We can support local community and national programs that teach adults to read. We can make contributions, or better yet, volunteer our time. Still, the greatest work that can be done is in our own homes. Parent to child reading ranks as the single most important activity for the ultimate literacy of a child. So the next time you're asked to volunteer your time to a community program or Junior wants to read "The Three Little Pigs" to you for the umpteenth time, remember the results of not getting involved and pledge to make a difference. Farr "N. Better Quality X at a Farr Better Price Guarantee: if your diamond does not appraise in writing (within 30 days of purchase) for AT LEAST 40 more than your purchase price, your money will be refunded. 2434 Washington Blvd. "The Rock" has been found. Congratulations Treavor Moss. (DNranoNS ZAP!!! OOF POW! . ADAM WEST TheOriginalTV Batman Thursday, May 25 Austad Auditorium 10:30 a.m. 5 |